Method to improve channel utilization in a time division multiple access based protocol

a time division multiple access and channel utilization technology, applied in the field of data transmission technology, can solve problems such as resource waste, and achieve the effect of improving channel utilization

US20110170559A1Inactive Publication Date: 2011-07-14INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HLDG
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2011-07-14
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

A method and apparatus are described including receiving a report from an associated station, updating a list responsive to the report, adjusting a timeslot allocation map responsive to the updated list, encapsulating the adjusted map, transmitting the encapsulated adjusted map and assigning a timeslot specified in the timeslot allocation map to the associated station. Also described are a method and apparatus including receiving a synchronization frame over a communications channel, decapsulating a map located in the synchronization frame, determining if there is a timeslot specified in the map for which this associated station is one of an assigned main owner and an assigned backup owner, transmitting data over the communications channel during the timeslot for which this associated station is the assigned main owner, sensing the communications channel for a time interval and transmitting data over the communications channel that is idle for the time interval during the timeslot for which this associated station is the assigned backup owner.
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Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to application EP 08305679.6 entitled “A Method to Improve Channel Utilization in a Time Division Multiple Access Based Protocol” filed 14 Oct. 2008, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to data transmission technology, and particularly to a method and apparatus to improve channel utilization in a time division multiple access (TDMA) protocol.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] There are some existing specifications which define the communications and operational support interface requirements for a data-over-cable system. One of these specifications is data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS), an international standard which permits the addition of high-speed data transfer to an existing cable television (CATV) system and is employed by many cable television operators to provide Internet access over their existing hybrid fiber ...

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General Description

[0041]As used herein, “ / ” denotes alternative names for the same or similar components or structures. That is, a “ / ” can be taken as meaning “or” as used herein. Unicast transmissions are between a single sender / transmitter and a single receiver. Broadcast transmissions are between a single sender / transmitter and all receivers within receiving range of the transmitter. Multicast transmissions are between a single sender / transmitter and a subset of the receivers within receiving range of the transmitter where the subset of receivers with receiving range of the transmitter may be the entire set. That is, multicast may include broadcast and is therefore a broader term than broadcast as used herein. Data / content is transmitted in packets or frames. As used herein a station can be a node or a client device, which can be a mobile terminal or mobile device such as, but not limited to, a computer, laptop, personal digital assistant (PDA) or dual mode smart phone.

[0042]In ...